H.M.S. Pinafore
NEVER MIND THE WHY AND WHEREFORE
Libretto by William S. Gilbert
Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan
Sung by Captain Corcoran, Sir Joseph, and Josephine
MIDI file (21K, 2 min. 38 seconds).
CAPTAIN.
- Never mind the why and wherefore,
- Love can level ranks, and therefore,
- Though his lordship's station's mighty,
- Though stupendous be his brain,
- Though her tastes are mean and flighty
- And her fortune poor and plain.
CAPTAIN and SIR JOSEPH.
- Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
- Rend the air with warbling wild,
- For the union of {his/my} lordship
- With a humble captain's child!
CAPTAIN.
- For a humble captain's daughter--
JOSEPHINE.
- For a gallant captain's daughter--
SIR JOSEPH.
- And a lord who rules the water--
JOSEPHINE (aside).
- And a tar who ploughs the water!
ALL.
- Let the air with joy be laden,
- Rend with songs the air above,
- For the union of a maiden
- With the man who owns her love!
--- * ---
SIR JOSEPH.
- Never mind the why and wherefore,
- Love can level ranks, and therefore,
- Though your nautical relation
- In my set could scarcely pass--
- Though you occupy a station
- In the lower middle class--
CAPTAIN and SIR JOSEPH.
- Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
- Rend the air with warbling wild,
- For the union of {his/my} lordship
- With a humble captain's child!
CAPTAIN.
- For a humble captain's daughter--
JOSEPHINE.
- For a gallant captain's daughter--
SIR JOSEPH.
- And a lord who rules the water--
JOSEPHINE. (aside).
- And a tar who ploughs the water!
ALL.
- Let the air with joy be laden,
- Rend with songs the air above,
- For the union of a maiden
- With the man who owns her love!
--- * ---
JOSEPHINE.
- Never mind the why and wherefore,
- Love can level ranks, and therefore
- I admit the jurisdiction;
- Ably have you played your part;
- You have carried firm conviction
- To my hesitating heart.
CAPTAIN and SIR JOSEPH.
- Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
- Rend the air with warbling wild,
- For the union of {his/my} lordship
- With a humble captain's child!
CAPTAIN.
- For a humble captain's daughter--
JOSEPHINE.
- For a gallant captain's daughter--
SIR JOSEPH.
- And a lord who rules the water--
JOSEPHINE (aside).
- And a tar who ploughs the water!
JOSEPHINE.
- Let the air with joy be laden.
CAPTAIN and SIR JOSEPH.
- Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
JOSEPHINE.
- For the union of a maiden,
CAPTAIN and SIR JOSEPH.
- For her union with his Lordship.
ALL.
- Rend with songs the air above
- For the man who owns her love.
- Rend with songs the air above
- For the man who owns her love!
This MIDI song file was sequenced Jeff Powell.
Updated 14 Nov 1997